Inside Bindi Irwin's Relationship With Her Mom, Terri
The child of wildlife conservationists and activists Steve and Terri Irwin, Bindi Sue Irwin is no stranger to us. A passionate wildlife conservationist herself, Bindi first became familiar to us through her father's television program, "The Crocodile Hunter." Later, in her own spin-off "Bindi: The Jungle Girl," a young, kind, and enthusiastic Bindi stole our hearts.
Featured in Time Magazine's "100 Next List," the "Dancing with the Stars" winner now works with her mother at the Australia Zoo and is closely associated with the organization's day to day activities. The "Return to Nim's Island" star is quite open about her life and the Irwin family's adventures at the zoo, which she shares with her five million followers on Instagram – and it is clear that she loves her mother as much as she misses her father.
Over the years, Bindi has talked about her mother and the dynamics of their relationship countless times. Here is everything you need to know about the mother-daughter duo.
Terri helped Bindi get ready for her wedding day
Bindi made it official with her longtime partner Chandler Powell on March 25, 2020 by tying the knot at the Australia Zoo, which is also the Irwin family residence where Bindi had spent most her of life. Since the wedding happened during the initial days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony did not have any guests. "We've planned this beautiful day for nearly a year and had to change everything, as we didn't have guests at our wedding. This was a very difficult decision but important to keep everyone safe," according to Bindi's post on Instagram, which featured an adorable picture of the newlyweds.
Bindi also revealed that the couple paid tribute to the bride's late father at the ceremony, and that Terri helped her get ready for her big day. "Mum helped me get ready, Robert walked me down the aisle, Chandler became my husband and together we lit a candle in Dad's memory. We shared tears and smiles and love," she wrote.
Bindi's wedding gown resembled her mother's
It was not just her father who Bindi paid tribute to during her wedding ceremony. While the couple honored Steve by lighting a candle at the altar before sharing their vows, Bindi honored her mother with her beautiful wedding gown.
Bindi's wedding dress closely resembles the gown Terri Irwin wore on her wedding day back in 1992. Just like her mother's dress, Bindi's wedding dress features a detailed lace bodice with a full tulle skirt. She completed the look with a delicate lace headband, as opposed to her mother's floral tiara and veil.
The wedding gown is not the only similarity that the newlyweds share with Bindi's parents, though. Just like Steve and Terri, Bindi and Chandler first met at the Australia Zoo — and just like how Terri moved to Australia from the United States for Steve, Chandler moved to Australia from Florida to be with Bindi (via People).
Bindi and her husband work alongside Terri at the Australia Zoo
Bindi and Chandler met for the first time when Powell, who lived in Florida, visited the Australia Zoo with his parents way back in 2013. The pair instantly became friends and kept a steady line of communication ever since. In 2015, Chandler joined the Australia Zoo's Wildlife Warriors team as a global ambassador.
After dating long-distance for a couple of years, Chandler moved to Australia to live with the Irwins at the Australia Zoo. "I'm so lucky that I've met someone who is excited and up for the challenge of our wonderful busy life," Bindi said in an interview with People. "We're having a great time throwing Chandler into everything."
Bindi's brother Robert is also quite fond of his brother-in-law. "One of the first times Chandler came to the zoo I wanted to kind of test him," he said in the same interview. "Just to see what would happen. So we had him feeding alligators and he did awesome. I'm very impressed. He's great with wildlife so I approve." The couple now works alongside the other Irwins at the zoo (via People).
Bindi and her husband recreated Steve and Terri's maternity photoshoot
Even after she and Chandler got married, Bindi and her husband continued to pay tribute to her parents and their love. A look at Bindi's Instagram posts would be more than enough for anyone to know that the 21-year-old has nothing but immense love and respect for her parents. She frequently posts snippets and unseen photographs of her father with heartfelt captions that capture how much she misses him.
In September 2020, Bindi and Chandler announced that they were expecting a baby girl (via People). On January 14, 2021, Bindi took to Instagram to share an adorable picture of Chandler kissing her heavily pregnant belly, along with a picture of Bindi and Steve kissing Terri's belly when she was pregnant with Bindi's younger brother Robert. "Recreating a very special moment. Third-trimester love," wrote Bindi captioning the still that got her fans swooning.
Bindi has a newfound appreciation for her mother after having her daughter, Grace Warrior
Bindi gave birth to her daughter, Grace Warrior Irwin Powell, on Bindi and Chandler's first wedding anniversary on March 25, 2021. Since then, she has been sharing adorable photos of their beautiful daughter — and the star's fans can't get enough of her.
In an interview with People for their May 2022 cover story, Bindi revealed how grateful she is to her mother for everything she had done for her and Robert, and that she has a newfound respect for her mother now that she is a mother herself.
"It does change your perspective. I probably tell my mom how much I appreciate everything she did on an hourly basis. Dad passed away when we were very little," she said. "She is such a strong person, and she had to raise me and Robert mostly on her own." Bindi added that she cannot even adequately express "the amount of respect and pride and gratefulness" she has for her mother.
Terri has had her fair share of struggles raising two kids after Steve Irwin's unexpected demise
Steve Irwin's death was a huge shocker for his fans all over the world. When "The Crocodile Hunter" died in 2006 at age 44, his children Bindi and Robert, who the world was already familiar with through the Irwin family's various documentary and television programs, were only eight and two years old, respectively. After Steve's sudden death following a freak accident involving a stingray, Terri singlehandedly brought Bindi and Robert up. To raise two children alone is no easy task, especially when you are a single mother processing the loss of the love of your life.
"No matter the circumstances are that you lose someone, nobody's truly prepared," Terri shared in an interview with People. "Steve's accident was so unexpected, it was extremely challenging." She also revealed that one of the ways they coped with their loss was to sit down together every night and practice gratitude. "We'd each say our favorite part of the day, what we were most looking forward to tomorrow, and a good deed we did that day. You can't focus on yourself. You need to focus on what you're doing for others and then you can start to heal."
Bindi thinks her daughter is blessed beyond measure to have Grandma Terri
While Bindi has made it quite clear that she feels lucky to have Terri as her mother, it is not quite the entire story. She thinks her daughter Grace is also lucky to have such a strong maternal figure in her life. On social media, Bindi frequently provides glimpses of the adorable grandmother-grandchild duo and their shenanigans at the Australia Zoo.
On July 20, 2022, Bindi took to Instagram to share a bunch of pics of the Irwin family and wish Terri a happy birthday on Grace's behalf. The carousel had multiple adorable pictures of a smiling Grace being held by her grandmother. Indeed, it seems that Grace is quite close to her "bunny." "Grace's 'Bunny'. Our beautiful daughter is blessed beyond measure to have all the love in the world from my sweet mama. Happy Birthday, Bunny!" Bindi wrote in her caption.
Bindi is grateful for her mother's kind heart and strong soul
In a social media post on July 19, 2022, Bindi shared a touching birthday greeting for Terri, proving just how much the "Crikey! It's The Irwins" star loves and respects her mother.
Alongside a photo of the Irwin family wearing the khaki uniform of the Australia Zoo, Bindi wrote, "Mum, I couldn't wait to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! So excited to celebrate your birthday tomorrow and the amazing, beautiful, inspiring person you are. Thank you for being born." She also didn't hesitate to go all in by saying, "I love you more than I could possibly describe and every day I'm grateful for your kind heart and strong soul. Of all the good things in this world, you're the most wonderful" (via Instagram).
If the numerous interviews and heartfelt social media odes to her parents are to be considered proof, it can definitely be said that Bindi Irwin's unquestionable love and respect for her mother is only getting stronger by the day.